Hello all, it's been way too long since I've last posted. But today the last in a series of events has occurred which prompts me to post to the BBS today. Those of you who have subscribed to my free newsletter already know this, thank you for not leaking the info prematurely. The Bombshell: Les Alexander has set in motion a plan to move the team to New Jersey. The Rationale: My sources have related grumblings within the organization surrounding Les Alexander. Lately, the crescendo of innuendo has become too big to discount. As you know, Les Alexander made his fortune as a Wall Street securities trader, and has many ties to the New York area. Les Alexander has noticed the lack of support from the Houston area fan base, despite the presence of Yao Ming and his fans. This, in conjunction with his history and yearning to return to the (large market) NY metropolitan area has induced him to make a few moves. As you know, even with a new stadium, home games are rarely sold out. This tepid enthusiasm has not gone unnoticed. The New York Angle: Many of you have noticed Les Alexander's fetish with New York Knicks ex-personnel. From Jeff Van Gundy, to Patrick Ewing, to Mark Jackson, to Clarence Weatherspoon. This is an attempt to capture the New York fan base by promoting personnel New Yorkers already love and identify with. Yao Ming will become bigger than Jeter, bigger than ARod, and Les, as a former Wall Street veteran, is allured by the draw of the bigger market and a budding superstar. Lets face it, the New York area is a very seductive target for a businessman. The Escape Clause: The contract with the city contains a secret opt-out clause. This has never been revealed publicly because it would have sabotaged any attempt at building a new stadium. My sources say that if yearly attendance falls below a certain number (I do not know what that number is), Les Alexander can invoke an escape clause, and buy out the remainder of his contract. With the uncertainty concerning the status of the New Jersey Nets franchise, Les is going to seize the opportunity to return to his Yankee roots, and move into the New Jersy Nets former home arena. What you can do: One, you must support the team. Go out to the stadium, wearing your Rockets regalia, and make a big spectacle of the event, especially with national television in town. Paint yourself up, be rowdy when the Rockets are introduced, scream and yell all game long. Do this for the remainder of the season. Two, you must not barrage the organization with angry phone calls. Doing so will only hasten Les Alexander's exit from Houston. Three, tell everyone you know about this. The bottom line: Support your team fanatically. By this, I mean make every home game a sell-out. Make yourself visible at road games. Make yourself conspicuous on TV. Make yourself un-ignorable EVERYWHERE. If you do, David Stern will intervene and prevent this musical chairs situation with the franchises. If you don't, there will be no saveourrockets.com grass-roots movement. Godspeed.
if this is april fools, i'm wasting my time...otherwise: 1. the contract is public....there is no secret clause...ask the Twins about trying to get out of these contracts...and they're more iron-clad today than they were back when the Twins signed theirs 2. you think attendance is bad in houston?? in NJ they get to the NBA Finals, and still can't sell out games. good luck, les.
Bwahahaha, If you fall for this, you need your head examined. I've been around longer than you, buddy. Nice try at April Fool's, though.
I believe you, New Jersey is SOOO much better than Texas, on top of that, the Rox will dominate the East. Fine move by Les right there.
I believe in your credentials (if this is really Oily), and WOULD HAVE believed the thread if it hadn't appeared on 4/1. Post it tomorrow and you might get some discussion.
